Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-02-27
A MODERN GYPSY CAMP.

49,
Race-Csmp by the Roadside.
ANY one would be interested in noting
how rapidly the members Of a Gypsy
band adjust themselves to their surround
ings when q camping place has been
reached. Almost within an hour the
place will have all the appearance of
settled abiding. In every direction you
will see in light and shadow the covered
wagons sheltered by the overhanging
foliage OF great forest trees, some Of the
meanest, poorest type, Others rich in
trappings and decorations. Near TO each
and scattered about the grass, or carefully
stretched over improvised racks formed
by saplings bent and their tops fastened
by bark throngs TO clumps Of brush or
stout wooden pegs driven into the
ground, or still hung upon the smooth,
outstIetching limbs of trees, are saddles,
blankets. parts Of harness, or various por-
tons of the outfit of the road. Here and
there are light buggies, with which trad
ing is done at the distant town, or in
which slirewd dukkerers fortune tellers)
seek the credulous occupants Of outlying
farms.
Between all these, OF tethered where
most convenient, are horses and mules in
large numbers and Of all grades. though
really excellent animals predominant,
munching their con or nibbling at their
hay. oornstalks or freshly cut oats or
grass, and whinnying and snorting in
their needs and freaks rs %strapping lads
leisurely care for them. Within the open
spaces around which the wagons are
standing-invariably with the open fronts
facing these spaces and the closely COW
cred rear ends toward the forest or road
are scattered the tents, like great
brown wooden hoods, their moths Open
ing upon CHEEKY fires, at the side Of
which will always be found the black
iron kettle sticks, from which are hang
ing, at nearly all hours of the day or
night, the sizzling pots or singing kettles.
You will nearly always find this camp
neal the highway, though almos. as fire..
quently entirely hid from it. like a nest;
and, to my mind. the Gypsy camp always
recalls how, when / was "a brown faced,
tunicked. country boy" with others of
my ilk. we hunted the nests of the
meadow lark, and passed and repassed
them, at times stepping squarely over
them without u prying eyes discovering
the tiny homes we were robbing. unless
mayhap the brown and mottled little
mother, wild in fear, with a whirr and
futter rose startlingly almost beneath our
very feet. Then there is the stream,
large or small, never more than a few
rods distant. Below the camp-.tbat is,
down the stream from it's the horse
path, where Gypsy lads lead the animals
TO water, and from which, il the stream
be large enough, you will see them daily
swimming the horses and mules-for
cleanliness of person end animals is a
part Of Gypsy religion-with much
laughter and jollity, as l have seen the
gay nadadors disport with Havana horses
in the sea off the Gale Anche del Norte.
Above the camps few rods is the path
where the lads and lasses bring the
drinking and cooking water. Midway
between there will be found a spot which
slopes TO the stream. Here are sand and
pebbles cleaning in the sun, or may be a
fiat rock with freckled face and sides,
shelving owe or into the water. 1t is
here the women come and duck their
chauvies. as mother geese will school
their goelings. or where they wash their
clothing much after the fashion of Ger
man housewives down in old Bavaria.
and upon the alders real will flutter
gowns that have a witching look as IL par-
taking of their wearers' race hereiity,
while the red and yellow cotton stuffs in
undergarments, handkerchiefs, scarfs and
turbans faunt airily, suggestive Of old
Spain and the savage colors of the Mos
lens that left barlarous tokens thread
ing down the centuries 10 the CASTLE Of
our own day. From divers ropes or
bark thongs. slung from clumps Of will
lows or fg,t"ncdto ~woolenpegs driven into
the bank, may be traced closely covered,
well oiled tin pals or jugs Of earthen-
ware, resting in the cooling water. which
hold various cooked or uncookcd articles
Of food Over here, just at the edge Of
the camp. you will sec where the chau-
vies have disengaged a rugged old vine
from a century-old tree and have trans
formed il into a swing, or, in the alb
sence OF that, have spliced, as cleverly as
could sailors. bits Of ropes into one-fur
the child-heart is the same the earth
round-and there are great laughter and
happiness here.-Edgar L. Wakeman In
Chicago News.